It’s a Multi-Console Future, Analysts need to Realize this

Although many gamers have multiple current generation consoles, the trend of financial analysts counting the Wii U out because Microsoft and Sony will release more powerful systems is shortsighted. Who says gamers can’t own a Wii U AND a PS4, or a Wii U and a Xbox 720. I’ve never put much stock into what financial analysts say, especially Michael Pachter, but at this point it seems like hes grasping for straws. Not only has he announced the Wii U will sell 45 Million units in its lifetime, he also states Microsoft and Sony will sell more because they will have “better” systems. Last time I checked, the “better” system seldom finishes first.

The PS1, PS2, Gameboy, Gameboy Advanced, DS, and Wii all were weaker than the competition, yet finished first. 45 million units seems really low for a company that has major system sellers like Mario, Wii Fit, Smash Bros, Zelda, Pokemon, and Donkey Kong Country. It’s impossible to know or predict how much a system will sell. What will be the impact on sales when Nintendo releases Smash Bros on the Wii U? What games are Sony and Microsoft launching with to sell their new systems? None of these things are known, so for financial analysts to come out and predict all this nonsense just to draw attention to themselves is inane. Look at previous predictions by these ‘professionals’, Pachter swore up and down the PSP would crush the DS because it had better graphics, and we all know how that turned out. He claimed the Xbox 360 and PS3 would lap the Wii because it wasn’t HD, once again, wrong. If Nintendo releases good games on the Wii U, gamers who intend to buy a PS4 or Xbox 720, will also pick up a Wii U. Graphics, or being “better” will have little to do with it. Gamers want good games.

In what might be the most foolish statement I’ve ever heard. Baird Equity Research analyst Colin Sebastian has stated if the Wii U fails to meet its expectations, Nintendo will consider “extending first party franchises to other platforms.” This analysts really thinks Nintendo will put their first party games on other platforms if things aren’t going well. Yeah, like how they did the same thing for the N64 and Gamecube, when they were getting stomped by the PS1 and PS2. Really, this is supposed to be a professional? Why in the world would Nintendo do that? Their first party titles are the reason people buy their systems. Putting them on other consoles would kill their console sales and turn them into a 3rd party games developer. I don’t have to work for a financial firm to know this will not happen. It saddens me to think this guy actually gets paid for spewing nonsense like this.

Gamers will go to where the games are. Graphics are important, but will anybody say the Wii U’s graphics suck if its pulling off games that look slightly better than Uncharted 3 and Halo 4 in a couple years? I know I won’t. I’ve seen games like the Witcher 2 on a Ultra settings, I’ve seen Watch Dogs, and Star Wars 1313 (rumored next generation games) and they don’t look drastically better than Uncharted 3 or Halo 4. I’ve seen the Unreal Engine 4 Tech demo, and the CryEngine 3 tech demo, and while they look great, it’s not the same leap the industry had from SD to HD. If your one of those gamers expecting a dramatic leap, you should curb your excitement. The business model of releasing super powerful hardware for a loss and making it up via software is a dying strategy. Microsoft and Sony would be smart to release moderate consoles, with good power, more RAM, and better functionality, than an overpowering console that overheats too fast and causes red rings of death and yellow lights of death.

Owning multiple consoles will be a normal practice by many gamers next generation. Especially with the Steambox and Project Shield making their way to market this year or next. Claiming the Wii U is doomed because more powerful systems are coming out is pre-mature. I fully expect Pachter to backtrack two years from now, when the Wii U has a full array of exclusive games and the sales of the system are great. Look at the 3DS’ outstanding turnaround. Games and price mean everything. The PS4 and Xbox 720 will do good in their own right. There is room for multiple consoles to succeed, we don’t have to pick one or take sides. As a gamer, I am looking forward to Halo, God of War, Mario and other titles on multiple systems. It’s time we stop listening to financial analysts. They are wrong most of the time, have parsimonious motives that are not beneficial to the gamers, and often use smoke-screens to justify their misguided analysis.

What do you guys think of the future of console gaming? Are you guys picking up multiple consoles? Please put your comments below.

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